Cushion device for automobiles



April 19 192K J. A. 'NEILL CUSHION DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBlLES Filled Jan. 19, 192e Patented Apr. 19, 1927.

JOSEPH A. ONEILL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

CUSHION DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILES.

Application filed January 19, 1926. Serial No. 82,296.

This invention relates to cushion devices for automobiles, the object, broadly, is to do away with the usual pneumatic tires, to provide devices of the above class, whereby. equal or greater riding comfort is afforded and to make it possibe to employ solid tired wheels of any sort for economy.

A principal feature of my invention resides in the provision of compressed air drums preferably'positioned over the axles and having extensions on which the springs of the chassis rest and the drums, on the underside at the ends, are provided with openings, which are closed by suitable airproof flexible fabric or other material, providing a rounded cushion at eachend which bear on laterally directed brackets on the axles.

Another feature of the invention is to shape the ends of the drums, over the load sustaining cushions, with inwardly curved walls of such contour to provide quick diverting or deflect-ing action of the upwardly directed load thrust air streams to guide them inwardly against the dormant or stagnant air at the center of the drums, which action provides for maximum resiliency which is transmitted to the chassis through the springs. rlhe well construction, that the greater the air volume the greater the resiliency, is followed by me, in that my drums are of such size to contain an air volume greater than that contained in two ordinary tires, and further, it is recog nized by tire experts, that greater resiliency would be obtained could the air at the load thrust point have freerv circumferential movement around and upward against the still air in the upper part of the tire, but this is prevented by the large arc against which the air impinges.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is an elevational view showing my cushion device arranged in operative position on an automobile axle.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the device and also showing a preferred air pressure Control mechanism.

Fig. 3 is a partial sectional side view on the line 3-4-3 of Fig, 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic plan view of a modified form of my invention in which a Vknown theory acepted in tire unitary cushion device is provided to function at all four wheels of an automobile.

Referring tothe drawings, the front axle of an automobile is shown at 10, on which solid tired wheels 11, are carried The axle at the ends, is formed with heads 12, and cross brackets 13, which support a metallic compressed air drum 14, which is provided with openings 15, in the bottom at the ends thereof which are surrounded by flanges 16, formed integral with the drum body.

I attain the desired cushioning effect on the chassis by employing a rubberized fabric or other strong air-proof flexible sheet material 17, to close the openings 15, and which is attached to the flanges 16, by screws or other devices 18, serving to secure clamp rings 19, in place The screws are preferably threaded into nuts .20,y held against rotation by parallel beads 21, formed in said rings; similar registering beads or ribs 22, are formed on the flanges 16, to provide offset jointsat the sides of the screws to effectively preclude escape of air from the drum 14, and black lead or other airproofing substance may be applied to the opposite faces of the clamped fabric 17, at these joints to further seal the parts.

The drum 14, has end brackets 23, on which the usual springs 24, are made fast by'a bolt 25, passing through a perforation in the said bracket-s, and these springs are adapted to support the usual chassis 2G. The brackets may be welded, riveted or otherwise attached to the drumv` or may be integrally formed therewith.

The heads 12, of the axles have vertical grooves 27, in each side to slidably receive guide lugs 28, formed on extensions or forks 29, of the brackets, to maintain the drum in proper relative position with the cross brackets 13, of the axle.

Air pressure is controlled by a spring controlled piston 30, working in a cylinder 31, communicating with the drum. The piston has a stem 32, carrying an extension 33, with two stops 34, and 35, between which is projected one end of a lever 36, swinging on a center 37, and carrying at its otherl end an idler gear 38, here shown in mesh with a gear 39, revoluble on the center 37, and a larger gear 40, driven by the generator of the car. This last named gear is continuously driven when the automobile engine is running, and when the pressure in the 'ill llO

drum builds up to near a desired poundage, the piston 30, will be gradually `toreed ontwax-dlr against the springs 80a, until the stop 311i-, contacts with lever 36, when -the idler 38, will be Withdrawn :from gear lt), thus Causing; the air pump all., linked to a crank pin 4:2, on the gear 39, to eoine -toirest A Check Valve fl?, is placed between the pump and air drinn `to hold the pressure. but should the pressure in the drinn drop below the desired point, the springs 1502 will foree. the 'piston Pil), inwardly, eansing- `the stop 35, to eontaet with the end ot lever 3G, and earry the idler 235%. over into 111esl1 with the generator driven gear to again start the pnnip Lil. as will be readily understood by those skilled in the art.

0l Course, it will be understood `that a enshion device similar to the one above llesrribed will be dispoeed over the rear axle ol the ear in the saine manner but with necessary rhanges in shape or torni. the prineiple oil action or operation being' identical.

ln Fig'. of the drawing` l shona niotlilied Ylorin ot cushion derive in whieh troni: and rear cross drains lift. are eonneeted by an integral longitudinal drinn fla. and by this eonstrnetion l van rarry a tar `fret-rter vohnne oiI compressed air, insuring' eren greater resiliencyv than that allowed by the single drum device, and further, I provide a unitar)Y structure for cushioning the chas sis at the four Wheels ot the ear.

1. rl"be roinhiinltion with the Chassis, springs and axles ot' an automobile` of enshion devices arranaed over the axles and under the bod;7 and extendingr frein spring to spring'. said devices comprisingr compressed air drains having' end extensions to support the springs. eurred end Walls and air inllated enshions resting` on said axles,r and means lor maintaining' a Constant air pressure in said drains.

Q, The Combination with the eliassis. springs and axles of an auton'iobile, ot eoinpressed air drains having' projecting' air inflated cushions resting on the axles inward the chassis,

springs and a-xles ot' an automobile, ot eon1- I' pressed air drunls arranged over the axles and `under'tbebodyof the ear and extending Al'rolnspringto spring', means on said drums for snpporting r fthe springs, said drums also having inflated cushions resting on the axles and Ineans lor maintaining` a ronstant air pressure, in said drains.

L lbe combination with the `chassis, springs and axles ot an aunfon'1obile, `ot coinpressed air drums arranged nnder the ear bothv between the springs and having Cushions resting' on said axles, said axles llnrriing raide groorevgsaid drinns also 'harian' hrael\' ets to support the springs, and extensions to engage said `grooves, together with Carved end walls. tor lthe purpose set lforth.

5. In cushion deriees for automobiles oon1- prisinrn eoinpressed air drums arranged over the axles ol the `ear and nnder `the botl1 thereof and haringl cushions which bear on said axles means on said drums 'for =s1ipportingl lthe sprilnf,r of 'the ear, and :tor enggag'inle said axles 'for guiding' the vertical movements of said drums which are also provided with enrveafl end walls ttor the purpose set forth.

6. In cushion devices for automobiles haring' the nsual ehassis, springs andaxlesn said axles havnnr cross brackets and guide grooves near `the opposite ends thereof,` coinpressed air drnlns arralfrg'ed over the axles and under the ear body, said drums harii're' inflated Cushions resting on said axle brackets and end extensions to ,support the springs and to eo-aet with said grooves to v`e'nide the drums in `their operatia'e. movements.

ln testimony whereof ll have signed n1)y naine to this Aslfieeilit-ation this 24th day ol' (letober, 1925.

JOSEPH A. ONiEILL.

said `drains `also having' f til) 

